THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 119 



been taken, represented by the spirit of the Mikado oper- 

 etta. Japanese are thought of as small, childlike and 

 fanny ; Japanese art as light and grotesque. We had 

 hoped better things of recent magazine writers, but in vain. 

 We want some one to treat Japan seriously, as the Rev. 

 Samuel Johnson did Chinese culture. 



The very difference of Eastern thought from ourselves 

 throws light upon our deepest problem : briefly, they have 

 developed social instincts, we, individual ; they, synthetic 

 thought, we, analytical ; they, art, we, science. Art is the 

 flower of their life ; of no other nation or people except 

 the ancient Greeks can this be said, and this vitality of 

 Japanese art when better known will strongly influence 

 our future theories and methods of art education. In Jap- 

 an, the humblest home, its little garden, its utensils, all of 

 the cheapest materials, are all artistic. The commonest 

 laborer stops to notice the beauty of natural scenery, or to 

 pluck wild flowers. Everybody is a poet, a draughtsman, 

 a critic. How all this contrasts with the prevailing ugli- 

 ness of western life ! In Japan, art is conceived as an im- 

 portant social function, parallel with morality and religion. 



NECROLOGY OF MEMBERS. 



JOHN P. ANDREWS, son of John H. and Nancy P. (Page) 

 Andrews, was born in Salem, Juue 23, 1805 ; elect- 

 ed a member of the Essex County Natural History Society, 

 April 24, 1844, and died in Salem, Nov. 2, 1890. 



JAMES CHAMBERLAIN, son of Samuel and Mary (Bow- 

 man) Chamberlain, was born in Salem, May 18, 1803 ; 

 elected a member of the Essex Institute, June 11, 1852, 

 and died in Salem, June 14, 1890. 



HENRY HALE, son of Joseph and Eunice (Chute) Hale, 



